Service Dog Trainer?

Somebody on here did that....but since I am "old" I cant remember who it was.

My breeder often donates dogs to Leader Dog in Michigan.  The puppy goes to live with a foster family for the first year and they are responsible for extensive socialization and basic training.  Then it is returned and found a match.

I also know of someone who raises dogs for Fidelco.  I like this org and they are interesting to me as they breed their own stock and their program's dogs go back to Kirschental lines.  They are located in New England so I'd contact them and see how it works.

I think corgichick did this with a Standard Poodle....you could PM her.

You would not be considered a "trainer" per se, but would be considered a "puppy raiser", as the training is done by the professionals at the providing agency. Puppy raising is a vital and very important part of the whole picture, for without the volunteer raisers, the cost of a service dog would be prohibitive due to the expenses that would be incurred from having to pay for everything including the breeding, raising, training, and specialized equipment needed.

The pup we raised for Guide Dogs for the Blind is now at phase 3 level of training (out of 10 phases for complete training). We had him from 8 weeks of age until his recall on July 9th; he was with us for 14 months. Yes, it is difficult to give them back, but going into the endeavor we knew what was to be expected. We decided to do this as a way of "giving back", as my wife has recieved 2 Guides from GDB over the last 10 years, and we wanted to be able to help somone else realize the independence that a Guide can bring.

One tip we can attest to: Do not raise the dog as a pet. Raise the dog with the intention of having it do the job it will be needed for. Too many pups have been ruined by raisers who treated the pup as a pet rather than looking ahead for the long run at what the dog will be doing when it will be a working service dog aiding a disabled person. That doesnt mean they dont get the loving, cuddling and attention they need....just that they arent treated like a pet would be treated. The pups need to know their place, and not have full run of the house or the people in it. Just a word of advice from someone who has seen too many pups wash out because of poor raising techniques.

Enjoy them while you can and know that they will make a huge difference in the life of a disabled person when they finish the real training.

Hi, I'm new, so I hope you don't mind me posting my opinion.  

 
A lot of people use the term "Service Dog" very broadly, when in fact, there are very distinct difference in many of the service that service dog's provide.  Of course most people think of seeing eye dogs when they hear the term "Service Dog", but seeing eye dogs are actually a very small section of all the services that service dogs perform for their humans.  It's the most demanding and requires skills and abilities not needed in other service functions, but there are guide dogs that do the job of guiding very well, but would not do very well in other areas.  And a whole lot more dogs that do not qualify to be guide dogs that are excellent service dogs for those with other needs.

And though Delta and a few other "suppliers" of service dogs would have every one believe that they are the only  "Official" source of service dogs, it is not true and in fact a lot of their training methods and policies help create a lack of available service dogs and make the process a whole lot more expensive than it needs to be. I've known people that have waited years to get a dog from Delta and then had to change their whole life around to meet their policies, pay a lot for the dog and then find out that the dog was suited for their needs. It's a shame to because there are a lot of people that have a need for a service dog.

 
We have Bouvier des Flandres. A dog that Delta won't even consider as a service dog because it doesn't meet their guidelines... it's actually has too much intelegence for their liking.    But a Bouvier is a natural for service work.  We are going on our 4th generation of service dogs in our house and have had 7or so that were service dogs (non-guide dogs) and several that were theropy dogs.  Basically they were taught common obediance (as any dog should be), socialized very throughally, and then taught to accept a harness, cape or backpack and that when they were wearing on they went under a different set of rules of behavior.  It usually only took a couple of times out and they picked up on what they were taught. They also learn that the dog selected to wear the gear was the one that got to go to neat places, so with multiple dogs that can be service dogs, they do compete with each other to be selected. And can put on a good pouting session when they are left behind.    We also have intact males and multiple dogs in our house hold, something else that Delta does not allow. We have had dogs from newborns to two current 13 year olds and several inbetween. They all get along just fine.  They are pets as well as service dogs.  We always train our dogs as pets first, family second and service dogs third.  Most of ours are mobility assistance dogs but one from our last litter alerts on migrain headaches on her human. She started doing that at about 9 months old and has not missed any in the last year. She gives her human 30 minutes warning, which is enough for her to take the medicine she needs or to get off the road.  She has even woke her up in the middle of the night to alert her.  Of course this is not something you can teach a dog, but you can encourage and reward the behavior.

 The biggest problem with a Bouvier (other than most people don't know how to handle the intellegence and pigheadness) is that they are long haired and double coated. So they have a grooming requirement that some people that need a service dog, do not have the ability to manage. 
 

There are other breeds that are just as capable of learning to be service dogs, but organizations like Delta spend a lot of time and effert to make people think that they aren't capable and aren't desirable as a service animal.  A lot of dogs, weither they are pure breeds or mutts from the animal shelter, just need to be shown what is expected and they are more than capable of being service dogs. They just need to be given the chance.

 
Now, if you want my opinion on what I think of people that pretend that their dog is a service dog when it's not, just so they can take it into stores or on planes for free, just ask. 

Mike